I recently picked up my very first coin from the "Bosporan Kingdom" from @John Anthony previous action. I liked the quirky design of it. BOSPORAN KINGDOM Tiberius Julius Thothorses, (278 - 309 A.D.) Æ Stater O: BAΣIΛEΩΣ θOΦθΩPΣOY; Diademed, draped bust of king right. R: Laureate head of Diocletian right, tamga in right field / ZΠθ Panticapaeum mint (?), AD 290. 7.6g 20mm Anokhin 735, Mionnet 2, 160ff.
ZΠθ is not a possible date. The 'theta' is a phi making it year 587. My Thothorses is year 593 (gamma qoppa phi)
Here is a page with some information about coins of the Kingdom of the Bosporus: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/Bosporus/ It includes short comments on the main reference works.
Thanks, I am just using Johns info. I was thinking of getting a few more of these sometime in 2022 just for their uniqueness, thanks, Warren.
Bosporan kings coinage is interesting with handsome dual portraits despite an evolution to more crude types through time Since I just posted it in my 2021 top 10, I repost my Rhescuporis and Caracalla stater here where it belongs too Bosporan kingdom – El stater, dated 513 (216-217 CE) BACIΛΕωC ΡHCKOΥΠOΡIΔOC (anticlockwise). Draped and diademed bust of Rhescuporis II right, before, trident. Laureate and draped bust of Caracalla right. ΓΙΦ at exergue (year 513) 7,63 gr – 18 mm Ref : MacDonald # 556/3 Q
I really enjoy these. I’ve started a decent collection of Cimmerion Bosporus and the later Bosporus Kingdom - Roman client state. I’ll take some pictures and share.
That's a neat coin, @Mat. I didn't know what a tamga was and now I do! I have only two coins from this region -- from Roman times, of course! Tiberius Julius Mithradates, King of the Bosporus AD 41-45, and his mother, Gepaepyris, Wife of Aspurgus. Bosporus Kingdom, probably prior to AD 41. Æ 12 nummia, 7.92 gm, 23.5 mm. Obv: ΒΑCΙΛΕΩC ΜΙΘΡΑΔΑΤΟΥ, laureate head of Mithradates, right. Rev: ΒΑCΙΛΛΙCCΗC ΓΗΠΑΠΥΡΕΩC, laureate, draped bust of Queen Gepaepyris, right. Refs: RPC I, 1911; MacDonald 312; Anokhin Bosphorus 331; Sear GIC 5433; BMC 13.51,5. Notes: Acquired from Beast Coins, 2 July, 2003. And this one featuring Claudius and Agrippina II: Claudius, AD 41-54 and Agrippina II, AD 50-59. Roman provincial Æ 12 Nummia, 9.30 gm, 25.0 mm. Bosporos, under King Kotys I, AD 50-54. Obv: ΤΙ ΚΛΑΥΔΙΟΥ ΚΑΙCΑΡΟC, laureate head of Claudius, right. Rev: ΙΟΥΛΙΑΝ ΑΓΡΙΠΠΙΝΑΝ CΕΒΑCΤΗΝ, head of Agrippina II, left, in loop ponytail; BAK before. Refs: SGI 5438; RPC 1925; BMC 13.52,7; Anokhin Bosporus 348; SNG Copenhagen 31.
Out of my wheelhou$e but amazing coin. Seeing these makes me want to make a side collection even more. Nice to see women are on them too. I take it they're much more scarce.
My only coin from the Bosporus Kingdom is this one from Asander. Apparently he went to battle well into his 90s and starved himself to death when one of his trusted generals deserted him on the battlefield. Quite a guy.... Ancient Bosporus Kingdom, Asander as King (c.47-16 B.C.) Year 8 (c.40-39 B.C.) AV Stater (8.21gms) Pantikapaion Mint NGC MS Strike 4/5 Surface 3/5 (Ex: Dr. L. A. Adams Collection):
